Boston University (BU) invites applications for the position of Police Lieutenant. Boston University, a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), is one of the leading private research and teaching institutions in the world, with three primary campuses in the heart of Boston, including the Charles River Campus, Fenway Campus, and the Medical Campus. The University also has numerous programs around the globe. Chartered in 1869, the University today enrolls more than 33,000 students, including 14,150 graduate and professional students, and employs nearly 10,000 faculty and staff across 17 schools and colleges. The University comprises 133 acres with 322 buildings, 544 classrooms, and 2,326 laboratories and houses more than 11,000 undergraduate students on the Charles River Campus. BU is the fourth-largest private university in the United States and one of the Boston area’s largest employers, representing a complex public safety environment that requires strong collaboration, intentional stakeholder engagement, and an adaptive leadership style.

Reporting to the Police Captain, the Police Lieutenant is a command staff member of the leadership team. The Police Lieutenant will work in close partnership with the Emergency Management Department and the Medical Campus Public Safety team to advance the University’s integrated safety strategy. The Police Lieutenant will support the daily operations and long-term vision of the police department. This role offers the chance to make a lasting impact by advancing the principles of 21st Century Policing, strengthening community trust, and fostering a culture of respect and accountability.

Boston University Police Department

The Boston University Police Department (BUPD) embraces a community policing organizational philosophy. The mission at BUPD is to protect all members of the BU community through intentional engagement, inclusive support and comprehensive preparedness – promoting a safe, resilient and thriving environment for all. The BUPD is a full-time professional law enforcement agency that provides a wide variety of safety and support services to the BU community at the Charles River, Fenway, and Medical Campuses. BUPD employs more than 50 state-certified police officers and is certified by the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission (MPAC).

Roles and Responsibilities

The Police Lieutenant is a member of the command staff primarily responsible for overseeing the operations of the evening shift. The Police Lieutenant will be expected to support the leadership team in all efforts to provide a high level of service and safety for the community. The Police Lieutenant is expected to embrace a community policing philosophy and participate in a substantial and meaningful community engagement. The Police Lieutenant will support a focus on de-escalation as it relates to student activism and protests and demonstrations.

The Ideal Candidate

The successful candidate will be a proven law enforcement leader with operational expertise, strategic vision, and a record of fostering community partnerships. The Police Lieutenant is responsible for operational leadership and must demonstrate the following qualifications and competencies:

• Commitment to community policing and progressive policing strategies.
• Experience in financial and project management.
• Integrity, resilience, adaptability, and a collaborative leadership style.
• Experience in command level leadership roles in an urban environment.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills to build effective working relationships with police and public safety organizations within and outside the University community.
• A commitment to transparency and accountability.
• Demonstrated commitment to officer safety and well-being.
• A collaborative leadership style rooted in fairness and respect.
• A commitment to working the evening shift.
• A commitment to working non-business hours, holidays, and weekends as needed due to operational needs.
• A service-oriented approach to the safety of the community.
• A commitment to de-escalation policing strategies as it relates to student activism and individuals experiencing mental health crisis.

Required Skills

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Qualifications

• 3-5 years of progressively responsible supervision experience in policing is preferred.
• Valid Massachusetts driver’s license (or ability to obtain prior to hire).
• The ability to obtain and maintain Police Officers Standards and Training (POST) certification within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Boston University offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience, plus an excellent benefits package, including life and health insurance, retirement, and tuition benefits.

Interested and qualified candidates should apply by April 21, 2026, with a cover letter, resume, and five references.

_We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, natural or protective hairstyle, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military service, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, or because of marital, parental, or veteran status. We are a VEVRAA Federal Contractor. _

Required Experience

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Qualifications

• 3-5 years of progressively responsible supervision experience in policing is preferred.
• Valid Massachusetts driver’s license (or ability to obtain prior to hire).
• The ability to obtain and maintain Police Officers Standards and Training (POST) certification within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Boston University offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience, plus an excellent benefits package, including life and health insurance, retirement, and tuition benefits.

Interested and qualified candidates should apply by April 21, 2026, with a cover letter, resume, and five references.

_We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, natural or protective hairstyle, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military service, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, or because of marital, parental, or veteran status. We are a VEVRAA Federal Contractor. _